Abusing UNESCO

Abusing UNESCO

The Open Society Justice Initiative's briefing paper looks at the on-going damage caused by President Teodoro Obiang to the reputation and standing of UNESCO.

This briefing paper looks at the on-going damage caused by President Teodoro Obiang of Equatorial Guinea to the reputation and standing of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

It summarizes Obiang's efforts to set up a UNESCO science prize in his name, despite his regime being accused of human rights abuses and extensive corruption. It also examines the naming of his son Teodorin as Equatorial Guinea’s deputy permanent delegate to UNESCO, which could endow Teodorin with diplomatic immunity in the face of criminal money laundering investigations in France.